We are going to call this morning
a step forward, even though it might not be considered so by some more
demanding souls. Certainly it is the biggest step I have taken in twelve days.
My equally mad husband
dropped me at the normal start point for our Sunday 10km run route at
Blakehurst. That is two miles north of our home, as the crow flies. What was
different about today was that it was thirty five minutes earlier than the
accepted start time. The plan today was that since the cough still persists,
and even in the light of me feeling more human again, that I could take a shot
at the full 10 km but only at my brisk walk pace. Steve reckoned that it would
take me two hours to walk the full course, which is hilly.
Once he had dropped me off,
he called in at our warehouse to pick up some boxes to drop off at a cousins
home whose son, our second cousin and his family are planning to move home soon
and packing must start. That would fill the thirty five minute time he had
given me before he started his run and another five minutes until another club
member Birgit, started her run.
My mode of dress was not run
kit but comfy country walk kit. I also had my camera and my phone. After a
couple of weeks with loads of wind and rain it was exceptionally still and
quiet when I started my walk. Even just a little bit earlier than usual there
were very few other people about and in fact in the first hour I saw just one
mountain biker and one runner. I only took nine photos on the whole route and
three of those in one spot where there is a huge fallen tree that is the most
amazing shape. The wind got up as I got to the highest point and I pulled the
hood of my coat up for a while.
On the wildlife front there
was little of note apart from the hundreds of pheasants noisily pointing out
exactly where they were to anybody who was interested. Don’t think that I am exaggerating
by saying that there are hundreds of the pretty but dopey little things; hundreds
is a massive under estimation, there are thousands of pheasants. Born and
raised in chicken run type conditions and then used for the amusement of the
idle rich and released in huge batches for the shooting season. They have no
sense at all (the pheasants that is, not the idle rich) because have not had to
learn how to live in the wild. They run along the roads and paths in groups of
20-50 like headless chickens. They are everywhere and rather than enhance the
woodland, I feel they spoil it because it is so unnatural. It seems to me that
it would be more honest to release them from traps directly into the line of
fire because that is all they breed them for. This pre release into the woods as
if they are wild birds makes no sense what so ever to me. So why not just make it
all like a fair ground shooting gallery. Or here’s a new idea; why not offer a
new, even more expensive fun day out to even richer and even more idle people
and let them hunt the less rich people for whom this lark is presently conducted.
Yes you’re right, I am just being silly now.
Back to my walk of the 10 km
run….. So. Not a deer in sight, not a rabbit, not a squirrel. It was not until
I was past the 6 km mark that a huge Kite spotted me and came swooping down to
investigate. He looked at me in my hugely oversized, bright chequered coat, as
it to say “Now there is a rare bird”. He did several gradually expanding
circles around me before getting bored and flying off. There is no evidence of
the incident, because it is very hard to stand on one spot with your head
turned skyward, trying to focus your ancient camera on an object moving around
at speed above you head.
It was when I decided that I
was not fast enough to get that shot, that I spotted Steve running on the ridge
above the point upon which I stood. Better move on because he was catching up
and would soon be starting on the downhill section. He caught me at the bottom
of the gallops, half a mile from the finish. Well planned. I took 1 hour 54 minutes
including photos and bird watching. Birgit arrived as I got back to the car.
Next stop Arundel and today’s
choice of tea shop was Belinda’s for tea and cakes and putting the world to
rights with our chatter.
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